The disclosure extends to devices, systems and methods for connecting one or more sensors to one or more printed circuit boards (PCB) in the distal end or tip of a scope. The disclosure also extends to a connector assembly for an image sensor for protecting the sensor and conveying information from the sensor to the PCB.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A surgical scope for providing an image in a light deficient environment comprising: a printed circuit board; an image sensor; a tubular member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion; and a card edge connector assembly that is located at the distal portion of and within the tubular member; wherein the card edge connector assembly comprises: a first end that receives the image sensor, a second end that receives the printed circuit board, a plurality of electrical connectors that electrically connect the printed circuit board to the image sensor, and an exterior surface comprising a channel that receives a fiber optic cable therein.
2. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are located between the first end and the second end; wherein the image sensor is connected to the card edge connector assembly at the first end of said card edge connector assembly; and wherein the printed circuit board is connected to the card edge connector assembly at the second end of said card edge connector assembly, such that the card edge connector assembly electrically connects the image sensor to the printed circuit board via the plurality of electrical connectors, thereby providing electrical communication between the image sensor and the printed circuit board.
3. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the card edge connector assembly attaches the image sensor within the tubular member in a vertical and substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to the printed circuit board.
4. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a plurality of electrical pads that are electrically attached to the plurality of electrical connectors via wire bonds.
5. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is electrically attached to one of the plurality of electrical connectors via an electrically conductive adhesive.
6. The surgical scope of claim 5, wherein the image sensor is electrically attached to the plurality of electrical connectors via wire bonds; wherein the image sensor comprises a silicon die; and wherein the electrically conductive adhesive is placed in controlled locations of the card edge connector assembly to electrically connect a backside of the silicon die to a ground in the card edge connector assembly.
7. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the channel is formed in the exterior surface and runs vertically a length of the card edge connector assembly between the first end and the second end.
8. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the card edge connector assembly comprises a cavity comprising a sidewall at the first end, wherein the image sensor is located within the cavity such that the sidewall of said cavity surrounds at least a portion of the image sensor, thereby protecting the image sensor and electrical connectors.
9. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the second end of the card edge connector assembly comprises a first slot for receiving the printed circuit board therein; and wherein the printed circuit board is held in the first slot via a bias force.
10. The surgical scope of claim 9, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors extend into the first slot, such that when the printed circuit board is located within the first slot the electrical connectors of the card edge connector assembly are in electrical communication with corresponding electrical connectors on the printed circuit board.
11. A system for providing an image in a light deficient environment, the system comprising: a light source; a camera control unit; a display; and a surgical scope comprising: a printed circuit board; an image sensor; a tubular member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion; and a card edge connector assembly that is located at the distal portion of and within the tubular member; wherein the card edge connector assembly comprises: a first end that receives the image sensor, a second end that receives the printed circuit board, a plurality of electrical connectors that electrically connect the printed circuit board to the image sensor, and an exterior surface comprising a channel that receives a fiber optic cable therein.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are located between the first end and the second end; wherein the image sensor is connected to the card edge connector assembly at the first end of said card edge connector assembly; and wherein the printed circuit board is connected to the card edge connector assembly at the second end of said card edge connector assembly, such that the card edge connector assembly electrically connects the image sensor to the printed circuit board via the plurality of electrical connectors, thereby providing electrical communication between the image sensor and the printed circuit board.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the card edge connector assembly attaches the image sensor within the tubular member in a vertical and substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to the printed circuit board.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the image sensor comprises a plurality of electrical pads that are electrically attached to the plurality of electrical connectors via wire bonds.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the image sensor is electrically attached to one of the plurality of electrical connectors via an electrically conductive adhesive.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor is electrically attached to the plurality of electrical connectors via wire bonds; wherein the image sensor comprises a silicon die; and wherein the electrically conductive adhesive is placed in controlled locations of the card edge connector assembly to electrically connect a backside of the silicon die to a ground in the card edge connector assembly.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the channel is formed in the exterior surface and runs vertically a length of the card edge connector assembly between the first end and the second end.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the card edge connector assembly comprises a cavity comprising a sidewall at the first end, wherein the image sensor is located within the cavity such that the sidewall of said cavity surrounds at least a portion of the image sensor, thereby protecting the image sensor and electrical connectors.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the second end of the card edge connector assembly comprises a first slot for receiving the printed circuit board therein; and wherein the printed circuit board is held in the first slot via a bias force.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors extend into the first slot, such that when the printed circuit board is located within the first slot the electrical connectors of the card edge connector assembly are in electrical communication with corresponding electrical connectors on the printed circuit board.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 6, 2022
May 20, 2025
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